Douglas County Sheriff outlines budget increase; public speakers protest special operations unit

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office presented a proposed fiscal 2025-26 budget of $25,061,068 on June 10, 2025, asking for about $731,466 above the county's budget target and outlining personnel increases, new equipment and expanded programs.

The proposal highlighted a 4.6% increase over the prior adjusted budget, driven by three additional sworn hires tied to two planned new courtrooms, a requested captain position, accreditation-driven professional services (including a public survey platform and a command mentorship program), and technology and forensic capacity additions, including a new crime-scene technician. The sheriff's office said it will aggressively pursue grant revenue and forfeiture funds to offset the net impact.

The presentation described reorganizations made in 2023 into three operational bureaus ' Court Services, Criminal Investigations, and Uniform Services ' and an administrative bureau for accreditation and support. Command staff told the board they face rising workloads in warrants and civil process, court security demands tied to two new courtrooms, end-of-life replacements for radios, and increases in specialized investigations…